08 February 2011

More than just Winter Quiet

I apologize for the silence on this blog. I haven't been able to ride and have been finding it just unbearable to think about cycling when I can't get out on my bike.

I thought I could ride yesterday but heard that we were expecting snow in the evening so I reluctantly took the bus. It was warm and puddled all day. Today I waited for the bus for half an hour then gave up in disgust and went home for my bike. If snow was not actually falling from the sky I wasn't going to worry about it. Maybe I still won't be able to ride home. Whatever.

This morning I rode slowly and safely, walked when I was nervous, and have been grinning like a fool with the endorphins from actually getting to ride my bike for the first time in almost a month. I feel so much happier!

I also got to use my new bike accessory:

I am not the only cyclist with big news, and I have been spending a bit of this last bus-bound month reviewing Totcycle archives. I've been lucky that I have been able to ride so much during this pregnancy, with only one other three day obstacle in December. We're 34 weeks today (hurray!) and as a person who has had setbacks, this seems like a nice, safe, good time to finally announce!

My husband thought you would all have guessed our news when my Italian "baby-moon" photos featured more Moms on bikes than sexy Italian bicycles, but I guess it was subtle enough. Now you all now know why I was so obsessed with lights this autumn!

I fear this blog may divert a bit into mom-bike territory, as even the Dawes for my own mother is getting reworked as our family station wagon (for when Future Cyclist is big enough).

In the near term I hope the Future Cyclist and I will be able to snap some good cycling photos for you all when we're out on walks. I'll also be back on my bike ASAP after s/he joins us, which should coincide with the nice weather arriving. I'm trying not to think about missing brevet season (and a PBP year at that!) and focusing instead on perhaps volunteering at checkpoints. We already have a baby-sized cycling cap and are working on cheering... "Allez les cyclists!"

So please bear with me as time rolls along, the seasons change, a focus shifts, and my bicycle transforms to continue to reflect my needs at any given time... aren't bicycles awesome?

20 comments:

congratulations! It was sort of obvious when we met around xmas, but I couldn't say anything since i had literally just met you! :)

as someone who's looking forward to getting my nearly six year olds back on their bikes this spring, welcome to the world of bicycle parenting (much better than helicopter parenting!). Looking forward to various bicycle summer adventures!

Cris,Yes, it was chaos after the meeting, I was sorry we didn't get to chat. The 100 is right after the baby is due, I had hoped there was a chance that might be the only one I could do but it looks like it's not in the cards. If the baby is up for it we'll at least come see you all off. Good news is that the going to bed at 7 and getting up at 4 might actually be good training for a PBP year...

Cycler - I was actually wondering if anyone ever does stationary cycling to move through labor pains... I think balancing might be too much so we probably WON'T ride across town, but once there? It would be funny to have a stationary bike, walking, and the water therapy pool - since they already liken the experience to triathlons. :)

Somervillian, your photos are inspiring! I can't wait to have a stoker - though the passenger years should be fun too. My Parisian friend tells me her daughter insists that she sing whenever they go someplace by bike. She says it's very difficult on the uphills. Maybe we'll have one like Sheldon's kids, who just wanted to be fed math problems to work out while pedaling.

Thanks MamaVee!!!We're in a lot of flux so the Sorte might not be the right option right away, but I'm certainly going to want to know what you think about all sorts of cycling with little ones. Thank you!

I'm in no rush to be honest so if it ever seems right you know where to find me. Plus if you ever want to come out and try it you are always more than welcome. Hell you when the time is right you can most likely borrow it. It does have a hole in the bottom for an infant car seat hook up.... also I have a co-pilot kid seat. You won't be able to use that for quite some time, but it's just hanging out in my garage and I once thought of shipping it but never did. Would love to hand it over locally. Again no rush for that.

WOW! MamaVee, you're too generous! I'm sure I have some bike stuff that might interest you in trade, I'll bring it out and you can "rootle the stash". I am planning to get a Co-Pilot for the Ladies' Dawes, and have a rack for it already, so that would be awesome, I'd love to get that project underway or finished before the baby gets here, because I doubt I'll get as much done afterwards... but I know that's an ambitious goal.

I'm a few days late to this but still wanted to offer my congratulations! Yay for pregnant cyclists :) And you're so close to done, you must be so excited to meet your little one soon! Wishing you all the best for the remainder of the pregnancy!

congratulations to you both. Seems like a lot of bike bloggers are becoming moms. Happily for you they can and the "already" moms can offer you much inspiration on cycling through pregnancy and beyond!

Congratulations! No need to apologize for more mom-themed posts - I'm fascinated by women's stories of bicycling while pregnant and with children, and I assume one day the knowledge will come in handy for me. :)